The TSA Just Used an Abandoned Teddy Bear to Teach a Lesson About Security

Anyone who's ever had to eyeball what constitutes three ounces knows that the Transportation Security Administration likes to play with people's heads. This holiday season, however, the TSA is going for your heart. The vanguard of airport security just posted a travel anecdote on its Instagram account, and the story of one wayward teddy bear is more chilling than your longest flight delay.

A passenger flying out of Los Angeles International Airport attempted to take the biggest teddy bear we've ever seen aboard, but it was not to be, as noticed by Gizmodo. The TSA and the relevant airline ruled that the teddy bear was just too big to be screened and allowed on the plane, and, in the end, the bear had to be left behind.

Of course, bureaucratic regulations are bureaucratic regulations, and it's likely that some decent folks were just doing their jobs when they barred the bear. The agency took the sob story one step further, and posted an Instagram photo of the forlorn creature parked next to a garbage can, captioning it, "Why does this gigantic teddy bear look so sad?"

"It’s a good idea to check with your airline prior to traveling with overly large items," the TSA wrote.

With the bear rejected from the cabin, the passenger did have the option of checking him, but declined. Apparently, the old adage is right—and some types of love only go as far as the conveyor belt.

While initially excluding the detail, the TSA later updated its account with the information that the bear's traveling companion, far from wanting to leave the bear "abandoned by his owners," had bought it its very own seat—but that doesn't mean it could still travel. Ultimately, the passenger was offered a refund for the bear's ticket, leaving the stuffed friend to star in the saddest possible remake of Tom Hanks' Terminal.

Someone should tell the big guy that if he's going to be stuck there for a while, he should at least squat near an outlet.